Posts Tagged ‘Genauigkeit’

So how do I know that Dr. Jan Schleusener is a liar? Because, it is I of whom he lies! Also of Hans Heinrich Thyssen. But ‘Heini’ is no longer with us, so, as his biographer, I inherit a responsibility to question any libellous accusations concerning our personal and professional relationship, as well as about my credibility as an author.

The lies in question are contained in a book titled ‘The Expropriation of Fritz Thyssen’, written by Schleusener, published in March 2018 by Ferdinand Schöningh Verlag and funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. In this book, Jan Schleusener states that ‘Heini’ and I ‘fell out’, due to his ‘cancellation of his commission’ for my writing his biography. Schleusener even gives the page numbers of the German edition of my book, ‘Die Thyssen-Dynastie’, on which he falsely claims I confirmed this situation. Furthermore, Schleusener insists that my book contains vast swathes of ‘polemic revenge’ against ‘Heini’ and that it was obviously NOT written ‘sine ira et studio’. He then asserts that while I studied many pertinent sources, I interpreted them one-sidedly and ‘took into account only those aspects’ that supported what he purports to have been my ‘intention to scandalise’.

The truth is that the cancellation was subsequently rescinded without ever having been the cause of friction. I got on incredibly well with ‘Heini’ Thyssen (as did Caroline Schmitz, my German ‘collaborator’) and had no reason to be vengeful; quite the opposite in fact. This is explained in some detail in my book, while Dr Schleusener made no attempt to contact me or clarify the situation when researching his book. So there can be little doubt that his accusations are not only false but also malicious and designed to damage my reputation and credibility as an author, and as such they qualify as libellous.

I would also assume that as he is an academic, albeit a junior and undistinguished academic, Dr Schleusener’s students, the relevant seats of learning who reward him and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation would all expect him to adhere to certain standards of honesty and professionalism, which he obviously isn’t respecting. This is of particular concern when it comes to his coverage of history relating to the Third Reich. So Dr Schleusener presumably considers lying to be an acceptable practice, regardless of the subject or period. This was manifest in his dismissive response to my e-mails demanding a retraction and apology, while his publisher saw fit to ignore my request altogether; which doesn’t bode well for the accuracy of their whole academic series of Thyssen books.

Finally, I would like to address Dr Schleusener’s accusation of my having ‘scandalised’ evidence, as I had no reason to do so; the story being quite sufficiently scandalous without the need to resort to exaggeration. As a point of interest, it was ‘Heini’ himself who suggested the cover line, ‘Shame and scandal in the family’ as a title. And as far as our friendship was concerned, I should remind Dr. Jan Schleusener of the last paragraph of my book: ‘In my role as Heini Thyssen’s confessor, it was a family I had become part of and would no doubt continue to do so. I would also never raise a glass of red wine to my lips without thinking of him.’ Hardly the reflection of a man bent on revenge.